Comments on: DeCabooter & Cafarella: Desert Discovery Center Historical Record

By: Patricia Shaler

Patricia Shaler — Mon, 12 Sep 2016 22:47:33 +0000

Absolutely correct – years ago the concept was much smaller and Pinnacle Peak area was a considered location. It was then that Bob Littlefield supported that idea. Now they are talking indoor/outdoor amphitheater, lighting & sound system, classrooms, museum, restaurant/cafeteria, gift shop…..And, once they have ‘violated the virgin” there will be no limit to what all they can construct on the “Preserve’.
Join us Monday, Sept 19 at the Scottsdale City Council Study Session where they will “consider” what to do with the Citizen Petitions to submit the DDC issue for a vote by the same citizens who voted for the Bonds to buy the Preserve.
http://www.teapartyscottsdale.com/ddc_city_council_study_session

By: Stephanie Helfman

Stephanie Helfman — Wed, 07 Sep 2016 19:24:04 +0000

In 2009, Bob Cafarella provided me a copy of the comparatively modest Weddle Gilmore site plan which he claimed was the city’s proposed design for any discovery center. He then further advised me that it was too costly and would have to be constructed with private contributions. Somewhere between then and now, the scope and funding of this project has been run off its rails to the point where it finally must be stopped, if only by citizens’ efforts.

By: Patricia Shaler

Patricia Shaler — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 03:49:03 +0000

The history is not relevant. What is relevant is that none of the Bond proposals submitted to the voters to approve taxes for the Preserve indicated that several acres were to be destroyed for a Desert Discovery Center. If this were a legitimate benefit to Scottsdale, they would have been more honest about it, not try to ram it through under cover of night and would agree to submit it to the voters – before the November election. The entire process has been dishonest. Also, there is nothing that will keep it from expanding once it gets a foothold in the “Preserve”.